Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
The Chicago Bulls host the Boston Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back at the United Center Wednesday night in Chicago.
The staggering Bulls were short-handed against the Bucks Tuesday evening and still were never able to cut the lead below 10 in the second half, despite Demar Derozan’s 40 points.
Chicago was without Zach Lavine Tuesday night but is expected to play Wednesday against the white-hot Celtics. For Boston, Center Robert Williams, who suffered a partially torn meniscus on March 28th, is out, while stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both probable.
Boston is currently 8-2 in their last ten games, which has shot them up the Eastern Conference standings in which they stand at 2nd tied with the Bucks and 76ers at 2.5 games behind the conference-leading Miami Heat. Boston is listed at -7.5 over Chicago.
Bulls Struggle Against Top-Seeded Teams
The Chicago Bulls are in a place they do not want to be as the season is coming to an end, and that is being ice-cold into the playoffs.
The Bulls shooting woes continued Tuesday against Milwaukee as the team just shot 27% from 3. Nikola Vucevic, in particular, struggled the most by shooting 3/19 in a game that was heavily reliant on his scoring with no Zach Lavine (injury management).
Even though the Bulls lost, a positive was brought out because of Cleveland’s loss to the Magic Tuesday night, which officially secured a playoff spot for the Bulls, not in the play-in tournament.
The last time playoff basketball was in Chicago was in 2017. Even after lifting a long drought of playoff basketball, how confident can you be as a Bulls fan in these playoffs? Chicago has a combined record of 2-20 against the top four seeded teams in the East and West, which will not win any playoff series.
The Bulls have not been fully healthy all season and are still without PG Lonzo Ball, who brings a lot to the table. If the Bulls can get the continuous play of rookie Patrick Williams and Lonzo Ball back, there is a chance this team can make some noise in the East.
Boston Celtics Peaking at the Right Time
The Boston Celtics are one of the NBA’s hottest teams in the second half of the season, as well as recently winning the last 8 of 10. The Celtics are led by a duo of stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum leads the team averaging 27 PPG and also grabbing eight rebounds a game.
Brown is the second-leading scorer at 23 PPG and also grabs just over six rebounds a game. Both of these star-studded players are capable of going off for 30 points each every night, but the person who usually starts off the hottest also ends as the leading scorer.
The last time these two teams met, which was back in January, Boston was able to escape with a narrow victory at home in a game that didn’t feature Lavine, Caruso, Jones Jr., Patrick Williams, and Marcus Smart. Boston is ultimately looking to take the season series in a rubber match and will heavily rely on their two stars.
The Celtics have skyrocketed to the #2 seed and are in a tie with Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Boston’s remaining schedule is not easy, but if they continue to play like they have been, they can remain in the top spot.
Betting Prediction
Chicago is in a unique situation where they are waiting on everyone to get healthy but also need to start stringing some games together fairly quickly. With three remaining games, Chicago is looking to start a streak, and who better to have in town than the Celtics.
It will not be easy with Tatum and Brown, who are both averaging over 20 PPG against the Bulls this season, but it is almost desperation mode in Chicago.
With the record against top-seeded teams in both conferences, the Bulls need to regain the confidence that they were playing with as the #1 seed earlier in the regular season.
Boston has a date with Milwaukee on Thursday but first must come to Chicago. Even off of a back-to-back, the Bulls will come out with energy tomorrow after an embarrassing home loss and catch the Celtics sleeping in what could easily be a look-ahead game for them.
Just when you think the Bulls are going away, they can have some amazing performances, and tomorrow is a night that would not surprise me if they came out guns blazing. The Chicago Bulls +7.5 is the pick to play for this one.
